Seems to be the way marketing in the the game industry works. Get the game to the media first, they have time to write/record their (hopefully) glowing review, generating a lot of buzz around the game. "Squee!" you say, as you run your little ass out to get the game on release day. Oh man, those guys in the sales department love to see big numbers on day one! The game jumps to the top of the best-selling and top-rated lists, generating more interest and sales just based on that rank, drawing the attention of people who may have never heard of the game or don't follow gaming media, generating even more sales.

Far from a review but here is a blurb I wrote up in a gaming forum I go to. Keep in mind, this is taking you into the forum's thread about the XBLA version of Spelunky but does also relate to the PC version as well. I'm far from professional but I was glad to get the positive responses I did garner. I am 'slightly' known as an Indie fanatic, so they expect this sort of thing from me. Oh yeah... the link is here... http://www.veterangamers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1469.